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Hundreds get Omicron booster shot at LCPH's walk-in clinic ahead of the weekend

People enter LCPH's walk-in clinic, with banks of seats filled to capacity for hours on end.
Brian Bull
/
KLCC
People enter LCPH's walk-in clinic, with banks of seats filled to capacity for hours on end.

Today (9/16) was a particularly busy day for staff working Lane County Public Health's walk-in clinic at the Valley River Center. Some people waited up to two hours to get the Omicron COVID booster shot that became available earlier this week. KLCC's Brian Bull was there and had this report from the scene:

"I’ve been by the walk-in clinic at the Valley River Center mall twice today, and both times the seat banks were comp filled out to the door. We’re talking about probably 25-30 people at a time waiting for their turn to get the Omicron variant booster shot.

A health technician administers the Omicron variant booster shot to KLCC's Brian Bull. He told Bull that as of 4:45pm, he'd already probably given 200 shots today (9/16/22).
Brian Bull
/
KLCC
A health technician administers the Omicron variant booster shot to KLCC's Brian Bull. He told Bull that as of 4:45pm, he'd already probably given 200 shots today (9/16/22).

"A couple gentlemen who I talked to on their way out said they ended up waiting about two hours for their shots. And then another woman who was just walking out when I came to the mall said that she waited an hour and a half and just simply gave up. She said she saw some people who were on the verge of passing out after such a lengthy wait.

"One worker who I did talk to inside did say that they are trying to get to people the best they can, they acknowledged that it was standing room only, but added that it’s very important to get the Omicron variant booster shot as soon as possible.

"For KLCC News at the Valley River Center mall, I’m Brian Bull.

©2022, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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